Ultrasound device, systems, and methods for lung pulse detection by plueral line movement

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods for automated, fast lung pulse detection are provided. In an embodiment, a system for detecting pneumothorax (PTX) includes an ultrasound probe in communication with a processor. The processor is configured to generate, using the ultrasound imaging data received from the ultrasound probe, an M-mode image including a pleural line of the lung. Using the M-mode image, the processor generates a difference image comprising a plurality of difference lines generated by subtracting adjacent samples of the M-mode image. The processor analyzes the difference image to determine whether the difference image includes a periodic signal corresponding to the heartbeat of the patient and outputs a graphical representation of detecting the lung pulse based on determining that the difference image includes the periodic signal corresponding to the heartbeat.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for detecting a lung pulse in a patient, comprising:
 an ultrasound probe configured to obtain ultrasound imaging data representative of a lung of the patient; and 
 a processor communicatively coupled to the ultrasound probe, the processor configured to:
 generate, using the ultrasound imaging data received from the ultrasound probe, an M-mode image including a pleural line of the lung, the M-mode image comprising a plurality of samples obtained along a scan line; 
 generate, from the M-mode image, a difference image comprising a plurality of difference lines generated by subtracting adjacent samples of the M-mode image, each of the plurality of difference lines comprising a plurality of intensity values; 
 analyze the difference image to determine whether the difference image includes a periodic signal representative of a lung pulse, wherein the lung pulse comprises a movement of a pleural line corresponding to a heartbeat of the patient; and 
 output, to a display in communication with the processor, a graphical representation of detecting the lung pulse in response to determining that the difference image includes the periodic signal. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine a location of the pleural line in the M-mode image. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the difference image comprises a y-axis representative of a plurality of depths and an x-axis representative of the plurality of difference lines such that each difference line comprises a vertical line, 
 wherein the plurality of intensity values is arranged along the vertical line, 
 wherein the processor is configured to analyze the difference image to determine whether the difference image includes the periodic signal by:
 generating an axial intensity curve by summing, along each vertical line, the plurality of intensity values; and 
 determining whether the axial intensity curve includes the periodic signal. 
 
 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the axial intensity curve includes the periodic signal by applying an autocorrelation function to the axial intensity curve. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to generate the M-mode image from the scan line in each of a plurality of B-mode images obtained by the ultrasound probe over a period of time. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to control the ultrasound probe to operate in an M-mode to generate the M-mode image. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of difference lines comprises a plurality of first-order difference lines generated by subtracting immediately adjacent samples in the M-mode image. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of difference lines comprises a plurality of second-order difference lines generated by subtracting immediately adjacent samples in the difference image. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising the display, wherein the graphical representation indicates at least one of a presence of the lung pulse or a period of the lung pulse. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the graphical representation comprises a marker overlaid on the M-mode image identifying a location of the lung pulse on the M-mode image. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface device communicatively coupled to the processor, and wherein the processor is configured to:
 receive a user input, from the user interface device, identifying a region of interest in the M-mode image; and 
 generate the difference image for the region of interest in the M-mode image identified by the user input. 
 
     
     
       12. A method for detecting a lung pulse in a patient, comprising:
 obtaining, by an ultrasound probe, ultrasound imaging data representative of a lung of the patient; 
 generating, by a processor communicatively coupled to the ultrasound probe and using the ultrasound imaging data received from the ultrasound probe, an M-mode image including a pleural line of the lung, the M-mode image comprising a plurality of samples obtained along a scan line; 
 generating, by the processor, a difference image from the M-mode image, the difference image comprising a plurality of difference lines generated by subtracting adjacent samples of the M-mode image, each of the plurality of difference lines comprising a plurality of intensity values; 
 determining, by the processor, whether the difference image includes a periodic signal representative of a lung pulse, wherein the lung pulse comprises a movement of a pleural line corresponding to a heartbeat of the patient; and 
 outputting, to a display in communication with the processor, a graphical representation of detecting the lung pulse in response to determining that the difference image includes the periodic signal. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising determining, by the processor, a location of the pleural line in the M-mode image. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 ,
 wherein the difference image comprises a y-axis representative of a plurality of depths and an x-axis representative of the plurality of difference lines such that each difference line comprises a vertical line, 
 wherein the plurality of intensity values is arranged along the vertical line, 
 wherein the step of determining, by the processor, whether the difference image includes the periodic signal comprises:
 generating, by the processor, an axial intensity curve by summing, along each vertical line, the plurality of intensity values; and 
 determining, by the processor, whether the axial intensity curve includes the periodic signal, 
 
 the method further comprising determining, by the processor, whether the axial intensity curve includes the periodic signal by applying an autocorrelation function to the axial intensity curve. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12 , wherein generating the M-mode image comprises generating the M-mode image from the scan line in each of a plurality of B-mode images obtained by the ultrasound probe over a period of time. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 12 , wherein obtaining the ultrasound imaging data representative of the lung of the patient comprises controlling, by the processor, the ultrasound probe to operate in an M-mode to generate the M-mode image. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 12 , wherein generating the difference image from the M-mode image comprises generating a plurality of first-order difference lines by subtracting immediately adjacent samples in the M-mode image. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 12 , wherein generating the difference image from the M-mode image comprises generating a plurality of second-order difference lines by subtracting immediately adjacent samples in the difference image. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 12 , wherein outputting the graphical representation to the display includes indicating at least one of a presence of the lung pulse or a period of the lung pulse, wherein the graphical representation comprises a marker overlaid on the M-mode image, the marker identifying a location of the lung pulse on the M-mode image. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 12 , wherein generating the difference image comprises:
 receiving, at a user interface device in communication with the processor, a user input identifying a region of interest in the M-mode image; and 
 generating the difference image for the region of interest in the M-mode image identified by the user input.